Scientific American, Vol. XXXVII.—No. 2. [New Series.], July 14, 1877: A Weekly Journal of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, and ManufacturesVarious
Science
Scientific American, Vol. XXXVII.—No. 2. [New Series.], July 14, 1877: A Weekly Journal of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, and Manufactures
Various
Science -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals
(3) H. K. F. M. says: I have a box made of Bohemian crystal. The
cover, which was held to the box by a brass frame, has come apart
from its frame. It seemed to have been cemented by a hard substance
resembling plaster of Paris. How can I make it? A. Boil 3 parts
powdered rosin for sometime with 1 part of caustic soda and 5 parts of
water; then stir into the soap formed one half its weight of plaster
of Paris, and use immediately.
(4) F. N. Y. asks: Would a canvas bag, coated with a varnish made of
india rubber dissolved in naphtha, be suitable to hold oxygen gas? A.
Yes; but bags made of double pieces of cloth, cemented together with
the varnish, are better.
(5) J. A. B. asks: Is there any difference between electricity
and magnetism? A. Electricity and magnetism are supposed to be
manifestations of the same force whose actions are produced at
right angles to each other; the action which occurs in the line of
polarization being called electricity, and the one at right angles to
this line, magnetism. There is an important difference between
them, however, as electricity is essentially a dynamic force, while
magnetism is purely static.
1. Is not the idea of the world moving around the sun in an elliptic
form absurd? A. No. 2. My idea is that the north star is the center
of the universe, or in fact is the magnet that all the suns or fixed
stars move around, and that the attraction of the pole of the earth,
although it moves around the sun, is the cause of the change of
seasons, or, in other words, the angle of light. A. There is nothing
whatever to support the idea. But a supposed center of the universe
has really been designated by some astronomers.
(6) P. S. asks: How much copper wire does it require to construct an
electro-magnet that will uphold 100 lbs., and what size of wire should
be used? A. Probably 500 or 600 feet of No. 14 copper wire would be
sufficient with 3 or 4 very large size Grove cells and cores about 6
inches long and 1 inch in diameter.
(7) H. S. B. says: Water falls about 16 feet per second. My overshot
water wheel moves about 4 feet per second. Do I in that way lose that
percentage of the actual power of the water? A. Not necessarily.
(8) C. N. B. asks: Can a steam engine be worked with compressed air
the same as with steam? A. Generally speaking, it can; but not in
every respect.
(9) J. Y. says: If all the measures of length, surface, and capacity
in the world, and all the weights were lost, by what means could new
ones be made corresponding exactly with those we now have? A. It would
be impossible, as all the measures in use refer to certain arbitrary
standards.
(10) R. B. G. asks: If a horse be pulling at the end of a lever and
traveling 3 miles an hour, how many lbs. pressure against his collar
must he exert, to raise 33,000 lbs. 1 foot per minute? A. The force
exerted by the animal will depend upon the length of the lever, which
should be given.
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